Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-09
TERRIBLE DISASTER
On the New York Elevated
Road.
PEOPLE DASHED TO DEATH
And Others Manned by the Criminal
Neglect of the Gatemen
of the Train.

NEW 1ORk, Marcn o.-lhe large TAIL
or establishment of '.Nichol the tailor. "
in the Bowery, was destroyed by fire
this morning. The fire caused block
ade ON the Third-Avenue Elevated
road, which runs far up above Fvur-
teenth street. The conductor on the train,
which was blockaded q few hundred
feet from the Fourteenth.street station,
notified his passengers that they could
leave the train and walk over the mar
row plank alongside of the track. Ard
thus make their way to the station. A
number availed themselves Of this dan.
gerous privilege, and an awful accident
was the result. In some manner a unxio
was started on the narrow waik far
above the street, and q number of Der.
sons were thrown to the pavement be-
low. 1t is stated that seven were killsd
and many injured.
Official reports show that three uer-
sons were killed and seven others bsdly
injured. 1t appears that . number cf
passengers left one of the trains at Sew
enteenth street and started to walk
along q narrow footpath at the side Of
the track to the station at Fourteenth
street. While doing so the blockade
was relieved and trains began to start.
The motion shook the pathway to such
an extent that number of passengers
were thrown down to the street below
with the result as stated.
The narrow platform from which the
people fell was about two and q half feet
wide. tits used by the trackmen. when
on duty, and above Fourteenth street l.
not provided with hand rails. When the
passengers left the blockaded cars and
took to the platform the gatemcn of tho
trains offered no objection. as they ought
to have done. A long line cf men was
picking its way slowly along the plat
form when, suddenly, the train ahead
started up and began to move. The
next one followed. Each successive
series of jerks went along the line MP to
the last train. Each one shook the
track with convulsive movement that
frightened those in front and made them
hurry ahead rapidly to reach the station
safely. Those behind saw that they
were scared and grew nervous
IN turn. Some were looking
anxiously around for some support and
a bunch of dozen walking in sinQle
file, just below Fifteenth street, in sight
of the platform, scurried nervously for
ward to catch the gate of the nearest
car, when the train, of which 1t was 9
part, suddenly started ahead and nearly
shook the foremost one of the people OF
his feet. Springing back in fright from
the moving wheels, he crowded against
man behind him on the very edge of
the narrow plank walk. From bslow
the crowd was Watching the progress Of
the promenaders in mid-air. A shout Of
warning arose. but it was too late.
The man seized wildly at his neighbof,
in terror of his life. The latter drew
back, but the crowd behind was preas-
ing on, and the train waa
moving right on. Those behind
saw a momentary punching of the
crowd in front, and then one. two, half
a dozen were seen falling over the edge
into the street below. from which arose
q frightened wall that turned into shrieks
OF terror and despair as man after man
struck the pavement and lay mangled
and bleeding. Then followed wild
rush in the street and wilder and more
desperate one above in the air. The
venturesome pedestrians caught at the
gates OF the train as it passed and cluLg
to them with the grip Of despair. 1t was
stopped almost Immediately. The fright
ened and breathless men were pulled in
and room was made for others. In two
minutes the plank walk was clear. Down
below in the street the scene of
horror was in progress. Men had
fallen in the middle of the street
on the surface of the car track, in
ghastly heaps. Some were motionless,
some were moaning family and one was
shrieking wildly in pain aud terror.
The crowd. of thousands who had
watched the blockade from below surged
around and closed III upon the rcene.
Ten persons had fallen from the track,
all told-that is, ten were found, dead
or injured. If any escaped unhurt they
were not counted. Three at the bottom
OF the heap were dead. They had fallen
head first and had smashed in their
skulls, one and all of them. The dead
wagon was called and they were taken
to the morgue. Several persons were
more or less desperately injured and
some of them will die.